OS X :: Stacks / Dock Folder Icon On MacBook

I recently replaced my white MacBook (OS X 10.5) with a new MacBook.

In the old dock:
I had created a folder within the HD called "launcher"--so it would appear at the top of the list. I created a custom icon for the folder, created an alias on the desktop. I then put the alias in the dock. When I would click on the folder it would open like stacks.

New dock:
If I do the above process, the folder opens as a finder window--no more stacks. If I pull the folder directly to the dock, without creating the alias, the folder opens as a stack, but the icon is gone and replaced with the generic folder icon.

Is there a way to have a custom icon and have the stack/folder open as stacks? I don't like the option of putting a image file as the first item in the folder because then the "icon" that appears is smaller and in front of the folder I hate.